Padres possible for Kroon

Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1997 | 9:37 a.m.

Marc Kroon has been through some rough stretches throughout his minor-league career, but not since he was converted to a relief pitcher and certainly nothing like what he experienced during a four-game span late last month.

After being virtually a sure thing out of the Las Vegas Stars' bullpen for the first 3 1/2 months of the season, Kroon went through a stretch where he seemingly couldn't get anybody out, blew two consecutive save opportunities and saw his earned-run average balloon from 2.28 to 4.34.

Kroon, sensing he needed a strong finish to be considered for a September promotion to the San Diego Padres, apparently has reversed his skid, picking up two saves in the past two games. Kroon earned his team-leading 12th save as he closed out a 5-2 Stars win over Vancouver Monday night in the first game of a doubleheader at Cashman Field.

In the nightcap, Heath Murray tossed a seven-inning complete game as the Stars completed a sweep of the doubleheader with another 5-2 victory.

"I don't want to jinx myself, but I hope I'm over it," Kroon said of his four-game slump. "I feel I'm throwing the ball pretty good right now. I'm keeping the ball down and throwing strikes -- exactly what I wasn't doing earlier. I was leaving the ball up and walking people."

In his past seven outings, Kroon has allowed only one earned run on three hits in seven innings, walked three, struck out seven and earned three saves. Kroon said the difference has been as simple as regaining the confidence he had before being called up by the Padres in May.

"When you start to go bad for a couple outings, you start to lose a little bit of confidence and I lost a little confidence and I was just hoping I was going to throw strikes," Kroon said. "After a couple of games I got my confidence back. That was the main thing, just regaining my confidence as far as getting the job done.

"That was really the first time I had struggled as a closer. As a starter, I've had them before but as a closer, that was the first time in two years I've had a four-game stretch like that. Sometimes you've got to take a second, kick back and continue doing the things you were doing when you were successful and build that confidence back up."

Stars manager Jerry Royster said it is important for Kroon to finish the season on a good note.

"These guys' careers are in the balance here and their finish is very important," Royster said of his young players in general, and Kroon in particular. "I'm not saying their careers are over with, I'm just saying that they can propel their careers with a good finish here. Finishing strong is very important and these guys are doing it, especially Kroon. He has to do it; he could be closing in the major leagues next year.

"He does need to show people that he still can get people out here. He went up (to San Diego) and didn't get people out, then he came down here and didn't get people out -- that's no good. There is a good chance he'll go back up in September and get a real good look; they've got to find out about him."

The Stars used a strong outing from Bob Scanlan -- making his first start after 27 relief appearances -- and a grand slam by infielder Chad Tredaway to win Monday's opener. Scanlan (2-0) allowed no runs on three hits in five innings and Tredaway's slam, his sixth homer of the season, and a solo home run by Angelo Encarnacion accounted for all five of the Stars' runs in the fourth inning.

In the nightcap, Padres catcher Carlos Hernandez, in his first game with the Stars on a rehabilitation assignment, drove in three runs and Derrek L. Lee had a two-run double to pace Las Vegas.

Murray (4-7) allowed two runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out seven in going the distance for the first time this season.